Category: Ice Hockey

Arseni Gritsyuk is ready for his first season as a New Jersey Devil.

The 24-year-old announced on social media that he was heading to New Jersey to compete for a spot in the Devils’ lineup.

After signing with the Devils in May, Gritsyuk has been one of the franchise’s most anticipated prospects.

In a recent interview with TASS, a Russian media outlet, he shared his expectations for the upcoming season.

“I can’t make any predictions, but I have a score target that I’ve set for myself. To achieve it, I will, of course, have to work hard. But I am not going there to relax, so we will work.”

The 6-foot winger is projected to make an early impact. While he will need to adjust to the North American style of play, his numbers from past seasons suggest he has the potential to be a strong contributor.

When asked if he would fight for the Calder Trophy, awarded to the NHL’s rookie of the year, Gritsyuk gave a direct answer:

“Well, why go then? I’m not going there as a spectator.”

It’s clear Gritsyuk is coming to New Jersey to win. He’s fresh off a strong season with SKA St. Petersburg of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), where he tallied 44 points (17 goals, 27 assists) in 49 games.

Over the past five seasons, Gritsyuk has ranked among SKA’s top five players in points, goals, and assists.

His skill will be on display during the Devils' training camp as he battles for a roster spot. But he has another goal in mind as well, helping the Devils make a deep playoff run. After being eliminated in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs last year, the team is looking for redemption.

When asked about joining the organization, Gritsyuk explained his mindset:

“Well, how can you keep track of what their ceiling is? There will be a different team there now, different guys have arrived, so I can’t say that we will have exactly the same goals,” Gritsyuk told TASS. “First of all, I’m going there to show myself, to help the team and, of course, to set the highest goals for myself. Because every hockey player has a dream of winning the Stanley Cup, to touch it. Therefore, we need to set the highest goals for each season.”

Gritsyuk is expected to arrive in Newark any day now, and Devils fans can begin to get excited about his first NHL season.

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Mike Matheson will certainly be a player to watch next season. The left-shot defenseman is entering the final season of his contract and will be a pending unrestricted free agent (UFA). Thus, this is a big year for the veteran blueliner. 

However, another reason why fans should pay attention to Matheson next season is that he is nearing a new career milestone. The 6-foot-2 defenseman needs only nine more assists to hit the 200-assist mark. 

What's impressive about Matheson being so close to 200 career assists is that a good chunk of them have come since he joined the Canadiens. In 210 games over three seasons with the Habs, he has recorded 102 assists, with 51 coming from the 2023-24 season alone. Before his time with the Canadiens, Matheson recorded 89 assists in 417 games split between the Florida Panthers and Pittsburgh Penguins. 

Overall, it is no secret that Matheson's offense has improved since joining the Canadiens. He is now nearing this nice milestone because of it, and it will be fascinating to see how quickly he can hit it in 2025-26 from here. 

Canadiens' Defense Get Massive Praise From Martin St. LouisWhen looking at the Montreal Canadiens' roster, it is clear that their defense is a major strength. This is because they have seven caliber NHL defensemen, and they have multiple prospect blueliners who are knocking on the door to becoming NHLers.

Absurd predictions for the Vancouver Canucks’ 2025–26 season are back by popular demand. Be sure to shut off the critical thinking part of your brain when reading this article, as none of the things mentioned in this article will make any sense. 

Without further ado, here are some absurd predictions for the Canucks’ 2025–26 regular season. 

September: Canucks Announce Training Camp, New Practice Facility In Sweden 

Despite already locking in Penticton as the location for their 2025 Training Camp, the Canucks make the decision to appeal to a different sector of their fanbase by holding it in Malå. The organization also announces the location of their new practice facility — at the same rink in Malå. Fin the Whale transports the players to and from the facility by swimming across the oceans with them on his back. 

October: Canucks Lose Home-Opener In Shocking Fashion 

Exactly one year before Vancouver’s 2025–26 home-opener, the team gave up a 4–1 lead and lost 6–5 in overtime to the Calgary Flames. This year, instead of giving up the lead, they erase the exact same deficit and take the game to overtime. However, the new seats at Rogers Arena suddenly grow human consciousness and storm the ice, knocking the puck into Vancouver’s net during the chaos.  

November: Kiefer Sherwood Makes 30 Hits In One Game 

On a random day in November, Kiefer Sherwood decides to nearly double the current NHL record for hits in one game, making 30 in a full 60-minute match. 

December: Former Canucks Head Coach Rick Tocchet Gets Into A Fight With Current Head Coach Adam Foote

Things get heated in Vancouver’s December 30 matchup with the Philadelphia Flyers and former head coach Rick Tocchet, to the point where he and Adam Foote take things into the hallway John Tortorella style. Noah Juulsen separates the two before they can throw any more punches. As a punishment, the NHL takes 20 points away from each team’s standings total. 

January: After A Winter Slump, The Canucks Announce A Major Roster Acquisition 

Vancouver gets off to a rough first half of the season, having been stripped of 20 of their hard-earned points after the Foote/Tocchet smackdown. To remedy this, the team strikes up a deal with the Vancouver Whitecaps, acquiring star forward Thomas Müller and immediately slotting him into the position of 2C. 

February: NHL Announces 2026 All-Star Weekend, Prevents Players From Participating In Olympics 

In a sudden twist, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman announces that the NHL will be holding an All-Star Game in the middle of February, preventing players from representing their respective countries at the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics. When asked about the sudden change of heart, Bettman releases a statement saying “just because.” 

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March: Canucks Make A Trade At The Trade Deadline 

Not a month before the deadline, not a week before the deadline, or not a day before the deadline. No, the Canucks will make a trade right on deadline day, doing so for the first time since trading Tyler Motte in 2022. 

April: Canucks Make Playoffs But Are Disqualified By NHL Due To World Cup

The NHL, fearing that the Canucks’ playoff run could interfere with the 2026 World Cup, disqualifies Vancouver from the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Deeming Abbotsford as far enough from the main festivities, they allow the Abbotsford Canucks to play in their place, with the 2025 Calder Cup Champions also taking home the 2026 Stanley Cup. 

May: Tyler Myers And Half-Brother Quentin Grimes Swap Sports

Longtime Canuck Tyler Myers decides to take a break from hockey, beginning his professional basketball career in the 2026–27 season. To replace him, Vancouver brings in Myers’ half-brother, Quentin Grimes. Both players excel in their new sports.  

June: Canucks Use De-Centralized Draft To Their Advantage To Pick Viggo Björck 

With many projections ranking Viggo Björck, brother of Canucks prospect Wilson, higher than when Vancouver is likely to pick, the organization decides to hire a professional hacker to help them acquire the younger Björck. The hacker crashes every team’s Zoom meetings and submits random players as their selections, leaving Björck open for Vancouver to take. 

July: Vancouver Acquires Connor Bedard After Wise Words From A Convincing Canuck 

After yet another disappointing season, the Chicago Blackhawks make a shocking move during free agency — letting go of restricted free agent Connor Bedard. Bedard, who received wise advice from former Canuck Alex Burrows during the 2025 off-season, follows his heart and returns to his hometown of Vancouver to play with the team he grew up cheering for. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

It has been eight seasons since the Golden Knights proved that hockey had a place in the desert. Over the years, the organization and the players have made a name for themselves. Here is an updated list of the Knights’ All-Time Franchise Leaders.

Starting strong with one of the most iconic stats on the ice, goals. Five fan favorites headline this list: Jack Eichel (100), Mark Stone (108), Reilly Smith (127), and William Karlsson (161). But it’s an Original Misfit, now skating for the Nashville Predators, who holds the title of the franchise’s all-time leading scorer with a whopping 192 goals. 

The 34-year-old also holds the top spot in all-time points with an impressive 417. Not far behind him we have the recognizable names of William Karlsson (396), Shea Theodore (346), Mark Stone (323), and Reilly Smith (297).

It’s only fitting that the top five in the ‘Most Games Played’ category all hail from the inaugural season, cementing their place in franchise history from the very beginning. Grouped closely together on the leaderboard are Reilly Smith (420), Shea Theodore (511), Jonathan Marchessault (514), and William Karlsson (555). It’s defenseman Brayden McNabb, one of just four remaining Original Misfits, who leads with 584 games played. 

Last, but certainly not least are all-time wins by those who guard the net. That’s right, the goalies. Malcolm Subban rounds out the top five with 30 wins in 63 games, Robin Lehner with 39 wins in 66 games, Logan Thompson with 56 wins in 103 games, and Adin Hill with 67 wins in 112 games. At the top stands the newly retired but forever loved, Marc-André Fleury, the franchise’s original backbone in the net, whose 117 wins and 23 shutouts over 192 games remain unmatched.  

Eight of the twelve players mentioned still suit up for Vegas. With the season just a few weeks away, expect those numbers to rise. 

Will the Vegas Golden Knights be crowned Stanley Cup champions in 2025-26? 👑#VegasBornpic.twitter.com/HybbJk2b1Z

— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) August 31, 2025

It is not exactly a secret that the Montreal Canadiens want to improve at the center position. Due to this, during a recent episode of The Sick Podcast with Tony Marinaro, TSN's Travis Yost discussed a few potential center targets for the Canadiens. One name brought up by Yost was Chicago Blackhawks center Jason Dickinson.

"This group has real juice in the top six," Yost said about the Blackhawks' center group. "This is not going to be a playoff team. Does Jason Dickinson make a ton of sense for the Blackhawks long-term? I think that's an interesting question. He's definitely a capable third-line center. He immediately improves Montreal if he comes into Montreal."

The #GoHabsGo desperately need help down the middle, but who's available?@travisyost joins @TonyMarinaro to break down some possible center options on the trade market!#thesickpodcastpic.twitter.com/bs968tAduj

— The Sick Podcast with Tony Marinaro (@thesickpodcasts) August 29, 2025

Dickinson is entering the final season of his deal in 2025-26 and is a pending unrestricted free agent (UFA), so it is understandable that Yost is questioning the Blackhawks center's future in Chicago. He certainly could be a rental target for playoff teams once we get closer to the 2026 NHL trade deadline, assuming that the Blackhawks do not hold a playoff spot and he is not signed to a contract extension by then.

Dickinson's solid defensive play could make him a nice addition to the Canadiens' bottom six and penalty kill if acquired. However, given his importance to the Blackhawks' lineup and as a veteran in the room, Chicago would likely expect a decent return for him in a potential move.

In 59 games this past season, Dickinson recorded seven goals, 16 points, and 102 hits. This was after he set career highs with 22 goals, 35 points, and 143 hits in 82 games during the 2023-24 season.

Blackhawks Ranked in Bottom Half of Every Position for 2025-26The Chicago Blackhawks are not going to be very good this season and that's no surprise to anyone, but there are certain areas of their game and players to be excited about. TSN tiered every team's centers, winger, defensemen, and goaltending, and the Blackhawks found themselves in the bottom half of every position, whether you agree with that or not.

Whether led by Sam Ersson or newcomer Dan Vladar, the fate of the Philadelphia Flyers will be decided by their goaltending in the 2025-26 season.

As a team, the Flyers, spearheaded by Ersson and a combo of Ivan Fedotov and Aleksei Kolosov, had the worst save percentage in the NHL last season at a paltry .872.

Their cumulative 3.40 GAA ranked fifth-worst in the NHL, and overall, the Flyers' struggles in goal doomed them to placing as the fourth-worst team in the league.

That worked out in their favor, though, as it helped them land star winger prospect Porter Martone with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.

But, eventually, the Flyers are going to have to start winning games and not drafts. That's why Rick Tocchet, Trevor Zegras, and Vladar were brought in.

Is Vladar really an upgrade, though, or are we in for an even split from Kim Dillabaugh's crew this season?

Flyers Goalie Sam Ersson Positioned for Success in 2025-26Despite the prolonged dissatisfaction with the state of the goaltending, the Philadelphia Flyers have positioned incumbent starter Sam Ersson for success in the 2025-26 season.

Since Feb. 1, 2024, which is shortly after Carter Hart took an indefinite leave of absence from the Flyers, Ersson is 33-27-9 with a 3.10 GAA, a .883 save percentage, and one shutout.

Across that same span, even though it's not relevant to Vladar individually, the former Calgary Flames goalie was 13-13-6 with a 3.04 GAA, a .892 save percentage, and two shutouts.

Effectively, there wasn't much of a difference separating the two goalies over the last year and a half.

Now, from Oct. 1, 2023, to Feb. 1, 2024, Ersson was 12-9-3 with a 2.60 GAA and a .898 save percentage with three shutouts. It should be noted that, in the three games that immediately followed Hart's departure in that span, Ersson surrendered 11 goals on 60 shots.

Take away those three games, and Ersson is 12-6-3 with a 2.36 GAA, a .909 save percentage, and three shutouts from Oct. 1, 2023 to Jan. 22, 2024.

So, I threw a lot of numbers out there, and the conclusion is effectively that the Swedish incumbent performed significantly better when he wasn't shouldering the load alone.

Flames Sniper Backs 'Excellent' Aleksei Kolosov to Stay with Flyers, Continue NHL CareerGoalie prospect Aleksei Kolosov has all the talent and experience to stay with the Philadelphia Flyers and forge a successful NHL career for himself, but will he?

Once nerves set in and the lackluster support behind him faltered, so did Ersson and the Flyers as a whole.

I also think Vladar is a better goalie than his stats indicate, but you have to wonder why he's never started more than 29 games in any of the last four seasons for the Flames.

Sure, Jacob Markstrom and Dustin Wolf earned their playing time, but Vladar isn't going to be allowed to give those guys many nights off with seasonal save percentages below .900 across 20-30 total games played.

Based on that, I'm expecting Sam Ersson to lead the Flyers onto the ice for opening night at Xfinity Mobile Arena on opening night.

He's the Flyers' homegrown goalie prospect-turned-regular, and we've already seen his upside in this environment. The key, however, is now figuring out if that was his ceiling.

If so, it means more opportunity for Vladar.

As the 2025-26 season is still a month away, the days are trickling down for teams to reach an agreement with their RFAs that aren’t signed yet. Most of the Montreal Canadiens’ fanbase is keeping an eye on the Anaheim Ducks and Mason McTavish, but the Habs’ brass should be keeping a close watch on the Luke Hughes negotiations with the New Jersey Devils.

Not that the Canadiens would be interested in acquiring Jack Hughes’ brother, but rather because, like Lane Hutson, he’s a young offensive defenseman, and his deal could be a good indicator of where the market is heading with the new CBA soon coming into force and the salary cap steadily increasing.

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According to Sportsnet, the sticking point in the Hughes negotiations would be the term. The team wants the 21-year-old to either sign a three-year bridge deal or a full eight-year extension, but the player would rather sign a five-year deal, which would end when his brother’s contract with the Devils also expires. It would make both Hughes brothers unrestricted free agents before the start of the 2030-31 campaign.

Speaking to RG.org, the Devils’ GM Tom Fitzgerald is confident that the younger Hughes’ contractual issue will be settled before the start of the season, as the Devils have no interest in finding themselves in another Dawson Mercer kind of standout, and the GM adds that the player and his agent are also hoping to avoid that.

In 155 NHL games, Hughes has picked up 93 points and 44 penalty minutes. That’s a 0.6 point-per-game average, which is a pretty good number for a defenseman. In comparison, Minnesota Wild defenseman Brock Faber has 76 points in 162 games, for a 0.47 PPG, and was signed to an eight-year, $8.5 million AAV deal.

The Devils' GM also mentions that what fans don’t necessarily realize is that not all teams can spend right up to the cap, and that they may have an internal cap in place, which prevents them from giving too onerous a contract.

Whatever term and number the Devils and Hughes settle on, it’s sure to interest Hutson and his agent. Interestingly, Noah Dobson, who has a 0.59 PPG, was signed to an eight-year deal with a $9.5 million AAV by the New York Islanders, but with the Canadiens’ agreement. Will Hughes managed to secure a similar contract coming out of his entry-level deal, despite not having a large sample size. There lies the question.

As for Hutson, by recording 66 points in 82 games in his rookie season, he has given himself a 0.80 PPG. Does that put him in a position to break the bank right away, considering the cap increase and everything else? Hard to say. However, Canadiens GM Kent Hughes made a point of differentiating Dobson’s deal and those of Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, and Juraj Slafkovsky because the defenseman had more experience and wasn’t just signing his first standard contract. One could argue that his situation is different from Hutson’s, and that’s clearly what Hughes will try to do, especially if New Jersey manages to ink its defenseman to a reasonable contract.  

With Carey Price’s bonus being paid on Monday, things could start to fall into place in Montreal sooner rather than later…

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When looking at the Montreal Canadiens' roster, it is clear that their defense is a major strength. This is because they have seven caliber NHL defensemen, and they have multiple prospect blueliners who are knocking on the door to becoming NHLers.

The Canadiens only strengthened their blueline this off-season, too, as they brought in star defenseman Noah Dobson from the Montreal Canadiens in a trade with the New York Islanders. Thus, it is hard not to feel optimistic about the Canadiens' blueline heading into the 2025-26 campaign.

Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis certainly is confident in the club's defensive group heading into the season. While speaking to reporters, including Habs 360's Chris G, Canadiens defenseman Jayden Struble revealed that St. Louis had some massive praise for the Habs' blueline.

"Marty was doing his rounds, calling guys in the summer. He was "I'll take out seven d versus anyone in the league, and I would agree with that," Struble said.

Struble then discussed why he agrees with St. Louis' take on the Canadiens' defense.

"We have some really good young talent," Struble said. "We have some good young guys. We have some good older veterans. We have a good mix of skill and hard-nose, so it's going to be fun. It's going to be interesting to see how the year goes, but I think I'd take out seven guys versus anyone's."

St. Louis being so confident in the Canadiens' defense is certainly nice to hear, and it clearly has resonated with Struble. The Canadiens undoubtedly have some very good defensemen to work with this campaign, and it is a big reason why there is plenty of excitement surrounding the club heading into the 2025-26 season.

Noah Dobson Thrilled To Play For CanadiensEarlier this off-season, the Montreal Canadiens acquired star defenseman Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders. They then signed him to an eight-year, $76 million contract, so he will be a big part of the Canadiens' present and future. 

Mitch Marner was nearly traded to the Carolina Hurricanes. 

At around the time of the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline, Marner was asked by Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving to waive his no-movement clause to facilitate a potential trade to the Carolina Hurricanes for Mikko Rantanen.

Marner ultimately vetoed the trade and did not waive his no-trade clause. 

The superstar forward finally explained why he refused to go to Carolina, but it was nothing personal against the Hurricanes organization. 

“The last two years there were a lot of rumors going on, a lot of different stuff swirling around. You didn’t know what was going to happen,” Marner said via NHL.com. “Then the whole Carolina thing comes up in the middle of the season. It’s a bit of an awkward one. My wife was six or seven months pregnant, we really didn’t want to be a deadline player.

“I would have had to leave and go back to Toronto because my wife wasn’t coming down with me, so I was moving into Carolina myself if I did that. The logistics of it and everything, it just didn’t make sense and then from that point on, we told [the Maple Leafs] we were committed to [Toronto] and we were going to play it all out.”

Once this blockbuster deal fell through, the Hurricanes traded to the Dallas Stars in exchange for Logan Stankoven, a 2026 first-round and third-round pick, a 2027 third-rounder and a 2028 first-rounder.

Marner was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights in July and signed an eight-year, $96 million contract.

The rebuilding of the prospect cupboard was one of the considerable tasks that Steve Yzerman undertook when he returned to the Detroit Red Wings to take over the general manager's role from Ken Holland in 2019. 

His best two draft selections thus far in defenseman Moritz Seider and forward Lucas Raymond have already made considerable impacts on the organization and, being viewed as foundational pieces, were re-signed to a combined 15 years last September.

This most recent season saw the emergence of additional Yzerman Draft selections like defenseman Simon Edvinsson and forward Marco Kasper, both of whom have become regulars in the Red Wings' lineup. 

https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/detroit-red-wings/players/red-wings-players-to-watch-in-2025-26-marco-kasper

Among the standout names among the prospects who continue their development in Detroit's system is defenseman William Wallinder, the 32nd overall pick by the Red Wings in 2020. 

Wallinder has spent the previous two seasons with the American Hockey League affiliate Grand Rapids Griffins, skating in 127 total games along with another 12 postseason games. 

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

His ice time increased with the Griffins this past season to the numerous call ups by the Red Wings of William Lagesson, who often served as the club's eighth defenseman. 

In the mind of Griffins head coach Brian Lashoff, a former Griffins and Red Wings defenseman in his own right, Wallinder is progressing nicely. 

"He's steadily progressing into a guy that I think is definitely has potential to play," Lashoff said of Wallinder. "He, you know, took steps last year, playing more minutes, and we had (William) Lagesson with us at the start of the season, and then he went up to Detroit, so Wallinder took over a lot of that ice time. And I think he did well."

Lashoff touted Wallinder's skating and stickwork among his strengths that will eventually help him earn a full-time gig at the NHL level. 

"And, you know, obviously a great skater, you know, underrated. I think defensively, he has a good stick, and those types of things are going to be huge for him to take the next step to go to the NHL," he said. "So definitely a guy that I think is steadily, steadily progressing to the point where he's going to be knocking on the door." 

Wallinder, who was once named the Swedish Junior Hockey Player of the Year for the 2021-22 season while playing with Rögle BK, was called up to the Red Wings in December after an injury to Edvinsson, though he ultimately didn't see any playing time. 

In March 2023, Wallinder signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Red Wings. The 2025-26 season will mark the final season of that deal, after which he's eligible for restricted free agency. 

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This season, one of the main storylines in the NHL is how many players can make a successful comeback. There are players trying to win their way back into the league, and veterans who were gone for some time, but health has allowed them to return. 

Which of these stories will wind up having a fairy-tale ending?

Jonathan Toews, Winnipeg Jets

Jonathan Toews makes his highly anticipated return to the NHL with the Winnipeg Jets after stepping away due to health issues, including a long COVID ordeal and chronic inflammation. 

The 37-year-old former Blackhawks captain signed a one-year, $2-million deal with performance bonuses and will likely start as the Jets’ third-line center. Given the amount of time he’s been away, it’s hard to properly gauge what his on-ice level of production will be. If he hits anywhere between 40 and 45 points, that should be considered a success. 

Of course, the leadership Toews will bring will be essential to any Jets success this season. They’ve struggled to get over the hump in the post-season, and this is a player who has more post-season success on the roster than just about anyone. Even if he can’t do what he used to, he can be a mentor to younger players. 

Vitali Kravtsov, Vancouver Canucks

Vitali Kravtsov’s attempt to return to the NHL will be intriguing, simply because he’s going to have to earn a spot on the Canucks’ roster. Analysts like Jeff Marek have wondered what Kravtsov will do with his second opportunity after arguably blowing his first. Still, Marek argues it’s a low-risk gamble for the Vancouver Canucks. 

If Kravtsov is going to find a second life in the NHL, he’s going to have to beat out several other wingers vying for the same spot. He’ll be joining a group that includes Arshdeep Bains, Linus Karlsson, Jonathan Lekkerimaki, and Aatu Raty. With the team’s depth chart highly competitive, Kravtsov will need to demonstrate clear development to earn a place.

While Kravtsov finished sixth in KHL scoring, questions remain about his ability to adapt to the NHL’s more physical and defensively structured game. Previously a perimeter player, observers are curious whether he can now succeed closer to the net and make a meaningful impact at the NHL level.

Ivan Prosvetov, Calgary Flames

The Calgary Flames have signed 6-foot-5 Russian goaltender Ivan Prosvetov to a one-year, $950,000 deal, marking his return to the NHL after a season in the KHL with CSKA Moscow. 

In 2024-25, Prosvetov posted a 20-16-2 record with a .920 save percentage and 2.32 goals-against average, adding five shutouts and earning KHL Goalie of the Month honors. The 26-year-old has 24 NHL games with Arizona and Colorado, where he struggled. Can he out-battle Devin Cooley for a shot at the backup role?

Prosvetov was solid in the AHL, including a .921 SP in 21 games with the Colorado Eagles. 

Gabriel Landeskog, Colorado Avalanche

Technically, this isn’t a comeback because Gabriel Landeskog played in the playoffs for the Colorado Avalanche in 2024-25, but who are we kidding? No one knows what to expect from him in a full NHL season. 

What people saw from the Avs captain is a great step in the right direction, but he’s not played anything close to a full season since 2021-22. Asking him to play and stay productive and on pace for 82 games next season might be a tall task. Then again, no one knows. 

This is a unique situation because the Avs are a solid team, but a great one if Landeskog is one of those players who can score 50-60 points and return like he never missed a beat. 

Milan Lucic, St. Louis Blues

Milan Lucic is getting a tryout with the St. Louis Blues after leaving the NHL to join the NHL Player Assistance program. He’d signed with the Boston Bruins last season, but his numbers demonstrated that this was a player who had clearly lost a step. 

He played in four games before allegations of abuse surfaced, and that was after a 19-point season with the Calgary Flames in 77 games. Lucic is now 37 years old and was never the fastest player in the NHL. He could struggle to keep up with the pace of today’s NHL. 

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The Buffalo Sabres have been considered to have one of the deepest prospect pools in the NHL, which is in part due to them selecting high in recent drafts because of their not qualifying for the playoffs. The Sabres have displayed an eye for talent, but the organization’s developmental model has not yielded enough results. 

Leading up to the opening of training camp in mid-September, we will look at the club's top 40 prospects. All are 25 years old or younger, whose rights are currently held by the Sabres or are on AHL or NHL deals, and have played less than 40 NHL games. 

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#13 - Vsevolod Komarov - Defense (Rochester - AHL)

Komarov was the Sabres fifth-round pick (134th overall) at the 2022 NHL Draft in Montreal. The native of Chelyabinsk played his minor hockey in the Metallurg Magnitogorsk system but came to North America to play for the Quebec Remparts after being selected in the CHL Import Draft. In his first season, the 6’3”, 188 lb. blueliner focused more on being conscientious in his own zone and had 19 points (2 goals, 17 assists) in 60 QMJHL games, but made offensive strides in the sophomore campaign (12 goals, 27 assists) and scoring the game-winning goal for Quebec in the Memorial Cup final.

Buffalo locked up Komarov on an entry-level contract in June 2023, and in his third QMJHL season, and he led all QMJHL blueliners with 69 points (14 goals, 55 assists) in 60 games with Quebec and Drummondville and was named the league’s top defenseman and First Team All-Star.

“You could see right from the start that the hockey sense was there, the compete was there, and the poise. He just needed to get stronger and get his legs under him, move quicker. And he had the size as well,” Drummondville GM Yanick Lemay said about Komarov in The Athletic. “So it was just a matter of time for him I think to mature physically and get more powerful and that’s what he did the last two years.”

In his first professional season, Komarov’s offensive game struggled to translate from junior (18 points in 69 games), but the 21-year-old showed off a high-level of physicality, leading the Amerks with 85 penalty minutes. The Sabres are hoping to see some progress in his second pro season, which could lead to an opportunity in the NHL at some point this or next year. 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo

This year, the Lions du Lac St-Louis, a midget AAA team based in Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Quebec, will be celebrating its 50th anniversary. Since its inception in 1976, many talented youngsters have played for the team on their way to the NHL. As part of its 50th anniversary celebration, the team will retire the jerseys of five NHLers who have marked its history.

On September 5, the jerseys of Montreal Canadiens’ defenseman Mike Matheson, free agent and former San Jose Sharks blueliner Marc-Edouard Vlasic, New York Islanders’ forwards Jonathan Drouin and Anthony Duclair, and Anaheim Ducks’ left winger Alex Killorn will all be retired.

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Vlasic played for the Lions from 2002 to 2004 before joining the Remparts de Québec in the QMJHL and being drafted by the Sharks, with whom he has spent his entire career so far. While he has never won the Stanley Cup, he does have two silver medals from the World Championship, one gold medal from the Sochi Olympics, and was part of the World Cup-winning team in 2016.

Killorn spent a single season in Lac St-Louis before joining the Harvard University program, where he caught the eye of the Tampa Bay Lightning organization, who drafted him in the third round of the 2007 draft. He won the Cup twice with the Bolts and has now played 950 NHL games; he is expected to reach the 1000-game mark this upcoming season in Anaheim.

Former Hab Drouin, Matheson, and Duclair were teammates with the Lions when the team won the Jimmy-Ferrari Cup in 2011. Drouin was the only one to spend two seasons with the Lac St-Louis team before being drafted by the Halifax Mooseheads. Alongside Nathan MacKinnon, he won the QMJHL championship and the Memorial Cup before being drafted third overall by the Lightning in 2013. While his career hasn’t gone as expected, he has played 607 games with the Lightning, the Canadiens, and the Colorado Avalanche, picking up 374 points in the process.

As for Duclair, he joined the Remparts de Quebec of the QMJHL before being drafted in the third round by the New York Rangers. Since then, he has played for eight NHL teams. Just like Drouin, he has played 607 NHL games, but he’s slightly less productive with 314 points.

Finally, Canadiens’ rearguard Matheson was the Lions’ captain in 2010-11, leading the team to a championship and being named the league’s best defenseman. After playing midget hockey in Quebec, he joined Boston College in the NCAA and was then selected in the first round by the Florida Panthers in 2012. So far, he has played 627 NHL games with the Florida Panthers, the Pittsburgh Penguins, and the Canadiens, accumulating 265 points along the way.

Matheson has really come into his own in Montreal, setting new highs in offensive production and becoming an important leader on a young Habs team. While he hasn’t been relied on as much offensively of late, his mentoring has been crucial for the young defense corps. It will be interesting to see how the Canadiens will choose to go forward in his case as he’s entering the final year of his contract.

Canadiens: Big Season Ahead For MathesonThe Montreal Canadiens made the most significant trade of the summer when they acquired Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders. That acquisition is going to have a substantial impact on the team and on certain players in particular. One of the players who is likely to be the most affected is Mike Matheson.

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World of Chel has received some improvements in NHL 26.

The most impactful change comes to loadouts with the goal of removing a meta build.

Boosts have been removed and have been replaced with three X-Factor slots. 

X-Factors are no longer only available in specific player classes. Any player can now use any ability, allowing players to use different skills with different positions.  

There has been an adjust to Ability Points (AP), it ca now be increased to +10 and decreased to -10, each loadout has an AP budget.

Your player class will impact which attributes you can increase the most, a sniper will be able to increase their shot power more than a playmaker. 

As discussed previously there are 28 X-Factors in NHL 26 with five categories and three tiers. This allows you to build around your favorite trait or add lots of extra skills. 

The Battle Pass is now free for all users and time sensitive objectives have now been added to increase rewards. 

All special characters from NHL 25 have been updated. New characters will be added each season.

Players will now be able to transfer all of their EASHL Club information from NHL 25 to NHL 26 including name, identity, grudge match records, identity, and club details.

There is a limited window to transfer your club so do it ASAP. 

EA SPORTS NHL's WoC notes can be seen here. 

The full list of the players and their attributes can be seen here.   

NHL 26 is set to release Sept. 12, those who pre-order the deluxe edition get access Sept. 5. 

For more NHL Gaming news make sure you bookmark The Hockey News Gaming Site or follow our Google News Feed.